My apologies if you someone has already mentioned it, but have you considered an FAW+ (Flevobike Alleweder +) made by Velomobile USA (www.velomobileusa.com)? Their kits run $4795, so not sure if that is out of your price range, but the FAW+ is a great machine - very reliable, durable and repairable.

Joy, you might should have bought that waw for 2500$ if it was all there and w/ride. With a bafang and love and care your done. I guess you already have a down payment. And l have put large items on cards and paid them off at my leisure.

Go all out, dont cut corners, sounds like u want a velo. Just look for good used one. Do you have patience is the big question.

Velomobiel's are personable and cozy, all your stuff is in there on a rally/cant fall out/chain is basically inside. I use to live in bay area with the cooler months a velo is your match.

I just had this happen with the QV! This guy (mid 30s) was standing there with his gf/wife/so and pushing the shell with his shoe as I was walking up -- "I think thats plastic" I came up and said "Hey you are scratching my bike!" (there are visible scars and 'pealing' along where he was running his shoe across it) He turned to me and said "Oh, well you shouldn't have parked it here where people will bother it" (for the record it was parked next to a restaurant on the sidewalk away from the entrance, you'd have to walk over to it ) I said "really?, you think that somehow justifies your actions to vandalize someone elses property?" At that point the wife/gf/whatever looks at me and says "Why don't you fuck off and leave us alone we didn't do anything" .. At that point my usual quick wit left me and I just stared at them as they walked off .. Outside of the thoughts of abrupt and violent mayhem I really couldn't think of a reply to that level of reality detachment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by airmoose

Parents that allow kids to do stuff like that won't think twice about it, squishy or not. I have heard of some adults that have kicked a composite shell to "test it" for some reason (we have a lot of people without brains or consideration for others...).

Regarding the long-term investment aspect... I've owned 5 higher-end racing bikes ranging in cost up to top of the line Trek Madone. None of them made it beyond the 5 year mark. The major reason for the 'investment' aspect to become irrelevant was theft. 4 got stolen, and one got destroyed in a crash (gave the Madone to a buddy for a ride).

Thus, an odd question comes to mind: is it safe to assume that velos do not get stolen?

What % of parts on these are original? I presume the chain, the crank, and the cassette get replaced every, say 10-20K.

Is there such a thing as fatigue in the metal frame? Fatigue is the reason I am planning on using Ti or Steel, not Al (at least for parts that are not meant to be replaced)

How good is the UV resistance of the carbon/glass shell, and what does UV do? Do they buy special epoxies/coats for the UV?

Like a car needs maintenance so do velomobiles so many original parts have been replaced some several times.

Yes the metal parts suffer from fatigue and some need replacement but it can be done relatively easily for most of them. Velomobiles are coated with Gelcoat and paint and clearcoat that prevent UV damage but it does not mean that a good paint job would not be required after several years of use.

Quote:

Regarding the long-term investment aspect... I've owned 5 higher-end racing bikes ranging in cost up to top of the line Trek Madone. None of them made it beyond the 5 year mark. The major reason for the 'investment' aspect to become irrelevant was theft. 4 got stolen, and one got destroyed in a crash (gave the Madone to a buddy for a ride).

Thus, an odd question comes to mind: is it safe to assume that velos do not get stolen?

The shell can also be repaired because you may have an accident but contrary to a road bike you don't need to get rid of it if you hit the pavement. Many velomobiles in serious accidents have been repaired; Boooger, Norton and several other velonauts on this board have had first hand experience.

Yes I've heard of velomobiles being stolen, it happened a few years ago where one rider here had this issue but it was quickly found, some teenagers took it for a joy ride. Velomobiles are so rare that they stick out like sore thumbs and you can't ride far before someone spot it. When a velomobile goes on sale on E-bay, Kijjiji, Craigslist, members are quick to find the source and inform others if it looks fishy.

Rats, forgot this scenario. Of course. Pointless joy rides, to steal things not to sell them for drugs, but just for the fun act of stealing and destroying things in the process, to show off in front of teenager friends. This is what happened to my friend's and my carbon fiber sea kayaks. Two teenagers pried the storage shed open, took the boats out on the river (I saw them from a distance), and probably dumped them in the river. My blood still boils when I think about it. Seriously, if they were sold for drugs, I would understand; this was totally pointless.

Sounds like with no insurance etc a velo cannot be left outside, unlike a car. This, in my mind, is another point for the argument that velos, by large, are rich folks' toys, and the 'car-free' lifestyle is merely a statement that can be afforded by the well-to-do. A 10K velo needs a 500K house. Rent an apartment in the hood? Too bad, no 'car free' option for you. Sure, I understand it can be done, and I myself lived with 10 pairs of skis and 3 bikes in student dorms, but...

A velo can be included on your home insurance just like any other bike...

tried that, itemised insurance was very expensive. Did not seem to work for a scenario in which one's most valued procession is the bike, one had to own all kinds of other (useless) things like firearms, jewelry etc to make it worthwhile. People who rent generally do not have those things. Plus the thefts were not from home, it was from my parked locked vehicle when I was travelling.